Jackson Wang Signs With WME as Position Music and Lindsey Stirling's Label Back Arkai

Jackson Wang has signed with WME for representation while starring in an Apple campaign tied to his new single and music video, "Thank You." His 2019 debut album, "Mirrors," was the first album by a solo Chinese artist to reach the Billboard Top 200. Wang has collaborated with Ciara, Swae Lee, Major Lazer and Gucci Mane, headlined Los Angeles's Kia Forum and Brooklyn's Barclays Center, and in 2022 became the first Chinese solo artist to perform on Coachella's main stage. He continues to be represented by Team Wang Records and Roc Nation.

Where else is the money moving?

Position Music has signed Grammy-winning group Arkai to a joint-venture label deal with Lindsey Stirling's label, LindseyStomp, through Position Music A&R Jake Versluis. Described as "Hans Zimmer meets 2Cellos," the Juilliard graduates have worked across film and television, the Emmy Awards, the Grammy Museum and the NBA Finals.

Stirling said: "Arkai represents everything I hoped this label imprint could stand for: bold artistry, fearless creativity, and a willingness to push beyond the boundaries of genre. Jonathan and Philip are extraordinary musicians, but what excites me most is the heart and imagination they bring to everything they create."

Empire has made two senior appointments in its New York office: Leesa Brunson-Boland as Senior Vice President, A&R Operations, and Bina Fronda as Senior Vice President, Marketing. Brunson previously led A&R Operations at 300 Entertainment after nearly two decades at Def Jam Recordings, working with Rihanna, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber and Teyana Taylor. Fronda joins from Ultra Records, where as VP of Marketing she worked with Steve Aoki, Sofi Tukker and Benny Benassi.

British singer-songwriter Danny Griffiths has signed with Glassnote Records and released his debut single, "Lightweight Champion," already widely shared in demo form on social media. He is represented by Prolifica Management and Solo Agency Limited. Glassnote founder Daniel Glass said: "When we first heard Danny's songs and then witnessed the passionate response from the audience each night he performs, we knew he belonged with us."

Who is building infrastructure?

Create Music Group has named Hayley Silvertown Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer. Based at the company's Hollywood headquarters, she will oversee legal and business affairs and partner with the executive team on strategic transactions, investments and partnerships. She joins from Paul Hastings, where she was Of Counsel, and previously held roles at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Shepard Mullin Richter and Hampton, plus business affairs posts at ICM and Warner Chappell.

Nebula17, the Los Angeles company founded by former Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada, has announced a major expansion:

• Daniel Hong joins as Chief Operating Officer after serving as CEO of YG USA and COO of JYP USA, where he worked with Blackpink, Stray Kids and Girlset.
• Martha Blair Reynolds becomes Senior Director of Marketing from Ricky Reed's Nice Life Recording Company.
• René Mark joins as Director of Digital, having managed campaigns for BTS, Le Sserafim and Tinashe at Interscope Geffen A&M and Nice Life.
• Natalie Walsh joins as Director of A&R after working with Sabrina Claudio, Nasri and Adam Messinger.
• Harukaze Wakabayashi joins as Senior Manager, International, from Warner Music Japan; Zac Cruz as A&R/Marketing Manager from Avex and Revels Group; and Oscar Cornejo as Head Engineer, with Grammy-winning credits with Tyla and projects with Kanye West and Willow Smith.

Nebula17 has also added producers Oh Gosh Leotus, Hydra and Xansei to its U.S. publishing roster, signed New York artist Hojean to its label, and entered a global distribution partnership with the Orchard.

What does this change for touring?

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment has hired Joe Giordano Jr. as Senior Vice President of Entertainment Booking, overseeing booking for Prudential Center in Newark and Loew's Jersey Theatre in Jersey City. Chief Programming Officer Sean Saadeh said Giordano has "a rare ability to pair creative vision with instinctive talentspotting." Giordano previously served as Oak View Group's VP of Stadium, Arena and Theater Alliances and spent nearly a decade at ASM Global (Legends), later as Assistant General Manager at BOK Center in Tulsa.

Oak View Group has separately struck an agreement with Independent Artist Group to provide sponsorship and partnership services to IAG's music and comedy touring artists, working as an independent contractor across North America. Dan Griffis, President of Global Partnerships at OVG, called music "a natural fit for OVG."

The pattern is consistent: agencies and labels are adding executives, not shedding them, and sponsorship-driven touring infrastructure keeps consolidating around a handful of operators.